SINGAPORE - Saktiawan Sinaga headed in a stoppage time equaliser as Indonesia salvaged a 1-1 draw with fellow Asian Cup 2007 co-hosts Vietnam in the Asean Football Championship on Monday.

Trailing to an own goal by Supardi in the 35th minute, the Indonesians were finally rewarded for their second half pressure in the first minute of injury time when Saktiawan glanced an Atep free kick into the Vietnamese net.

The late equaliser denied the Vietnamese revenge for a painful 3-0 defeat inflicted on them by the Indonesians in Hanoi in the last edition of the tournament in 2004.

While Vietnam were unchanged from the side that drew 0-0 with Singapore on Saturday, Indonesia coach Peter Withe made three changes from the side that defeated Laos 3-1, omitting two-goal scorer Atep, striker Bambang Pamungkas and defender Erol Iba for forward Saktiawan and midfielders Agus Indra Kurniawan and Syamsul Bachri.

With the knowledge that a victory would virtually guarantee the winners a place in the semi-finals, both sides made plenty of early running on a pitch that had been covered for the previous two days to protect it from heavy rain.

Indonesia skipper Ponaryo Astaman had the first chance of the game in the third minute when his shot from the edge of the area went just wide while Vietnam skipper Nguyen Minh Phuong glanced a header towards goal that was easily saved by Hendro Kartiko.

Indonesia had slightly the better of the opening half's exchanges with Syamsul Bachri and Mahyadi Panggabean testing Vietnam goalkeeper Bui Quang Huy, who showed a preference for punching the wet ball away rather trying to handle it.

At the other end, Phan Thinh Binh powered a header towards goal only to see the ball come back off the post before Kartiko hacked the ball clear from danger.

On 35 minutes, the deadlock was finally broken by the unfortunate Supardi, who turned the ball into his own net after Le Tan Tai's cross from the right flank had been missed in the middle by Cong Vinh and Thahnh Binh.

Indonesia rallied and attempted to get back on level terms before the break but were twice denied by Quang Huy who pushed away a free kick by Astaman and punched away an effort by Kurniawan.

The Indonesians stepped up the pressure at the start of the second half as Sinaga and Astaman went close.

The Vietnamese defended in numbers but proved dangerous on the counter-attack with Le Hong Minh testing Kartiko with a shot from just outside the Indonesia box.

Having missed a number of opportunities against Laos, Ilham Jayakesuma had another ineffective game and although he put the ball into the Vietnam net just before the hour, his effort was ruled out for offside.

As the half progressed, Indonesia were reduced to taking shots from distance and wasted a glorious opportunity on 82 minutes when Jayakesuma touched a Supardi cross onto the upright.

Le Cong Vinh could have sealed victory in the closing minute when he had a shot hit a defender and then rounded Kartiko only to see the ball come back off the post.

Those misses would prove costly as Saktiawan found the net for the second time in as many games in the dying minutes to earn his side a share of the points.

BANGKOK - Thailand booked their ticket to the semi-finals of the Asean Football Championship with a 1-0 defeat of Malaysia, who also advanced after the Philippines held Myanmar to a goalless draw.

Sarayoot Chaikamdee's third goal of the campaign was all that separated the two Asian Cup 2007 co-hosts who both went into the final group fixture knowing that victory would guarantee a place in the knockout phase, while the losers would have to hope for a favourable result from the match taking place simultaneously at the Army Stadium.

Malaysia coach Norizan Bakar made just one change to his regular starting XI with Kedah's Thirumurugan Veeran making way for Johor FC midfielder Eddy Helmi, while Norizan's counterpart Chanvit Phalajivin made four changes to the side that started the 4-0 win over the Philippines.

Influential skipper Kiatisuk Senamuang returned to the fold along with Niweat Siriwong, fellow defender Natthaphong Samana and midfielder Pichitphong Choechiu with Choketawee Promrut, Datsakorn Thonglao, Pipat Thonkanya all dropping to the bench while illness ruled out Nataporn Phanrit.

Thailand dominated the opening exchanges but didn't create a clear-cut chance until the 19th minute when a poor goal-kick from Malaysia keeper Mohamad Syamsuri landed at the feet of Suchao Nutnum, whose cross into the box was headed back across goal by Chaikamdee to set up a shooting chance for Kiatisuk.

However, the veteran striker displayed an uncharacteristic lack of composure as he fired the ball high over the Malaysian crossbar.

Thailand should have gone into the break one up when, with a minute of the half left to play, a superb pass from Kiatisuk sent Sarayoot through on goal with only the keeper to beat.

But the 25-year-old hesitated in pulling the trigger allowing Syamsuri to close in on the Vietnam-based striker and block his shot.

Malaysia, whose first-half chances were restricted to a weak Hairuddin Omar header and close-range effort from Khyril Muhymeen, gave the Thais a scare one minute after the restart when a dangerous Hardi Jaafar free-kick was left untouched before being gathered by Kosin Hathairattanakool.

Barely a minute later Thailand took the lead as Sarayoot made amends for his first-half miss, stooping to head home Suree Sukha's cross from the right flank before Kiatisuk almost doubled the lead with a 59th-minute free-kick that rattled off the crossbar.

Things got worse for Malaysia two minutes from time when Irwan Fadzli Idrus picked up his second booking of the game after upending Suchao Nutnum but the Thais couldn't make the numerical advantage count in the remainder of regulation time or in the generous five minutes of stoppage time.